Just bringing you all a short chapter today. I honestly didn't know what I wanted to write for this chapter, and wanted to show a rather personal moment for Ben.

*I still don't own Ben 10 or My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic*


Dialogue Key


"It's hero time!" = Regular Speech

'Well, that was a little huffy.' = Someone's Thoughts

"This calls for a party!" = Someone Yelling


Leaves From The Vines


The day after the debacle with Albedo and his recreated Ultimatrix, we find Ben walking around town for the annual farmer's market. This is something he and Julie used to do all the time when they first started dating two years ago. And even though she's no longer alive, Ben's doing this as a way of honoring her memory. But he's not dressed in his usual Plumbers Uniform.

He decided to wear the clothes that Julie's parents and grandmother had made for him instead. Clothing that's part of their Japanese culture. Not only fashionable, but also comfortable and functional. A red men's kimono with a black obi keeping it tied shut, and a pair of simple sandals.

"This one will do nicely." Ben said as he examined a woven basket.

"Are you sure you want that one? This one here is much lovelier, and will surely impress your lady friend." said the lady running the staff as she showed a more ornate basket to Ben.

But the young man politely declined and paid for the basket.

"It's not really anything romantic. But this is still an important occasion." Ben said.

As he walked along to various stands, browsing their wares and buying what he needs. As he came across a music stand, Ben took notice of a potted plant that looks like a wilting white flower. But rather than tell the owner to get rid of it, he just pushed the plant back into the shade.

"The Moon Blossom blooms most beautifully in the shadows of the night."

And just like he said, the flower seemed to spring to life. The man running the stand sent Ben a grateful smile and admired the beauty of the plant, realizing that he'd been caring for it the wrong way. Ben was about to continue on his way, but the sound of a child crying caught his attention. He followed the directions of the sound and saw a pair of teenage parents, a boy and girl he goes to school with, struggling to get their baby to stop crying. But the baby just kept crying.

Thinking fast, Ben picked up a harmonium and began to sing a song that he knows will help the little one.

Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile tiny shells

Drifting in the foam

Little soldier boy

Come marching home

Brave soldier boy

Comes marching home

Slowly but surely, the baby stopped crying and looked up at Ben with big curious eyes. The little one reached up to grab some of Ben's hair, which had been growing out for some time now… and promptly yanked as hard as he could.

This of course drew a yelp of pain from the male Tennyson, but he ignored his pain as the baby laughed while his parents offered sheepish smiles. Something tells me this has happened to them on more than one occasion. Probably why they both have their hair cut short like it is.


Finally, after a long day of shenanigans and hijinks, Ben made it to his intended destination. A tall cherry blossom tree with a grave stones in front of it. He set down his basket and began to lay out several foods, light a few sticks of incense, and set up the final piece. A portrait of his departed girlfriend.

"Happy anniversary, Julie. I just wish you were here to experience it…"

Tears started gathering in Ben's eyes as his emotions started boiling over. Even though she's no longer here, as he started to cry, he began to sing Julie's favorite song. One that seems rather appropriate when you think about it.

Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile tiny shells

Drifting in the foam

Little soldier boy

Taken from home

Forced to fight a war

That's not his own

As the sun began to set, Ben took a bottle of sake out of the basket that he'd brought with him. A gift from Julie's parents. Man, or woman, to ascend to buddhahood without knowing the taste of good sake is a crime. That's what her parents told him after instructing him to pour the ceremonial sake on Julie's gravestone. They may not have been able to make it to this day of remembrance for their daughter, so they felt the least they could do was give good sake as an offering from them.

After doing as they instructed, he said a prayer as he wished for Julie to find happiness in the afterlife. And profusely apologizing for failing to save her on that fateful day.


*To Be Continued…*


Well, that ends this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Please be sure to leave your reviews and tell me what you think of this chapter. And if I made any mistakes in spelling or grammar, don't be afraid to let me know. Just put the line I made the mistake in quotation marks in your review, and I'll be sure to go back and fix it. As always, this has been SaurusRock625 and I'll see y'all in my next chapter! Buh-Bye now!